Cummins hits winning runs for Australia

Lily

B.R
Staff member
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Johannesburg: Teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins sealed a dream Test debut when he hit the winning runs to take Australia to a two-wicket win in the second and final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday.

Australia chased down a target of 310 to share the series. Cummins, who took six for 79 in South Africa's second innings, was named man of the match.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (55) and left-handed fast bowler Mitchell Johnson (40 not out) were mainly responsible for their team reaching the target, putting on 72 for the seventh wicket after all Australia's specialist batsmen had been dismissed with 95 still needed.

South African opening bowler Vernon Philander claimed his second five-wicket haul in his second Test to keep South Africa in with a chance of winning but did not get enough support from his more experienced teammates. Philander took five for 70.

Philander bowled Michael Clarke in the fourth over of the day after only three runs had been added to the overnight 142 for three.

Australia suffered a major blow 20 runs later when Ricky Ponting was caught at second slip off Morne Morkel for 62, having added only eight runs off 34 balls as the bowlers took advantage of helpful overcast conditions.

But Mike Hussey and Haddin put together a watchful sixth wicket partnership of 50 and with the sun starting to beat down on the ground the odds seemed to be swinging slightly in favour of Australia.

Another twist

There was yet another twist in a match of fluctuating fortunes when Philander was brought back shortly before tea and trapped Hussey leg before wicket for 39 with a ball which swung into the left-hander.

The television review showed umpire Billy Bowden's decision was correct.

It left Haddin and the hard-hitting Johnson to revive Australia's hopes. Haddin played and missed several times and was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Dale Steyn.

But he grew in confidence after tea as he and Johnson attacked the bowling.

At tea, Australia were 88 runs short of victory, with only seven overs left before the second new ball was due. Haddin and Johnson played a flurry of attacking strokes to add 54 runs in those overs.

The partnership was worth 72 when Haddin edged Philander to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher in the third over with the new ball.

Peter Siddle chipped a catch to midwicket off Steyn in the next over and Cummins walked out with 18 still needed.

He was dropped on five when a powerful straight drive burst through bowler Steyn's hands.

Cummins was beaten by a googly from Imran Tahir and South Africa appealed for leg before wicket, but were turned down.

The television review showed the decision was close enough to be an umpire's call. Two balls later Cummins hit the winning boundary.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings: 266
Australia 1st innings: 296
South Africa 2nd innings 339

Australia 2nd innings: (overnight 142-3)


  • S. Watson b Philander 0
  • P. Hughes c Kallis b Philander 11
  • U. Khawaja c Kallis b Imran Tahir 65
  • R. Ponting c Rudolph b Morkel 62
  • M. Clarke b Philander 2
  • M. Hussey lbw b Philander 39
  • B. Haddin c Boucher b Philander 55
  • M. Johnson not out 40
  • P. Siddle c Imran Tahir b Steyn 4
  • P. Cummins not out 13
  • Extras (b-1, lb-7, nb-7, w-4) 19
  • Total (eight wickets, 86.5 overs) 310

Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-19 3-141 4-145 5-165 6-215 7-287 8-292

Did not bat: N. Lyon

Bowling: Philander 20-3-70-5 (4nb, 1w), Steyn 23-1-98-1 (2w), Morkel 19-6-43-1 (3nb, 1w), Imran Tahir 15.5-0-63-1, Kallis 9-1-28-0

Series: South Africa and Australia drew 1-1.
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